"You know how guys start cooking?" Duff Goldman, aka the Ace of Cakes, asks. "Guys know that girls like guys who know how to cook."

There's a rare pause in our phone conversation. The Food Network chef is pondering a question about the perfect do-it-yourself Valentine's meal.

Then, with rat-a-tat speed, he asks, "You know what's not sexy?"

I hesitate. Boom.

"There's nothing sexy about a buffalo wing."

OK, Mr. Charm City, tell us what is sexy.

"When cooking, you want to elicit a response. It's the (most fun) part of being a chef - that interaction with the senses. It really sets you apart from all the other artists.

"If you paint a picture, you can hang it on the wall for people to see and hope that it elicits some type of response," he says. "But food is such a more immediate art form: the color, the texture, flavor, temperature - all those things go through your head when you're cooking. Think about cold ice cream on a hot brownie. Just the thought of it sets people off."

One of the biggest emotions you can use to connect with someone is nostalgia, Goldman says.

"I just tried a gelato made by Mario Batali. It was Creamsicle," he gushes.

"Chocolate pudding," he says with confidence. "You watch what happens when you give a girl chocolate pudding. It's so smooth and easy to do.

"And you can get creative with the leftovers."

Whoa, Duff, this is a family newspaper.

Time for a new subject. So what's new with you and your current Food Network show, Sugar High?

"We're taking a break," Goldman says. "I just opened a new bakery, so I'm being chill with TV."

Goldman opened his first bakery, Charm City Cakes, in Baltimore in 2002.

Surrounding himself with artistic friends-turned-cake-decorators, Goldman and his bakery became known for over-the-top cakes. Food Network later came calling, and the reality show was a hit for 10 seasons.

Goldman, whose résumé also includes metal sculptor and musician (he plays bass), recently moved to Los Angeles to open Charm City Cakes West.

"There's a lot of future for us in television," Goldman says, "but sometimes you gotta ride the clutch. I want to get back to owning and operating a great bakery.

"It almost sounds selfish, but I have to say I want to be in my bakery. I want to make this cake. You have to do what you love to do."

Before you go, Duff, talk to us about sweet trends.

"Cakes are never going out of style."

Got it. But the cupcakes, the whoopie pies, the cake balls … what do you think is on the sugary horizon?

"I would like to see someone get really creative with gummies," Goldman says, his voice raising with excitement.

Now I've finally found his topic. And he runs with it.

"Japanese gummies are the greatest. Kasugai gummies … the lychee tastes like lychee, the kiwi tastes like kiwi …," he says. "The Japanese really have their gummy game on.

"Here's the thing: America doesn't have its act together when it comes to gummies. We got nuthin'. Germany makes great cars, and they make great gummies. Japan makes great cars, and they make great gummies.

"America makes great cars," Goldman says, more shouting than speaking. "Now I wanna see America rise up and make gourmet, (kick-butt), affordable gummies."